Ocean For All is expanding beach clean-ups beyond the shores of Phuket!
Last Sunday, we attended the launch of “Licence to Clean 001” the first of seven coastal cleaner catamarans at Kamala beach in Phuket. Its name wittily references James Bond's famous island (Koh Tapu) in Phang Nga Bay.
Produced in Phuket, and made out of 100% recyclable plastic, or more specifically High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) - Plastic type 2. Due to its high strength-to-density ratio that results in superb wear resistance, withstanding heat, and freezing. HDPE is often used for milk bottles, flexible pipes, toys and in this case a boat.
The catamaran is 5.8m long and will be collecting floating trash between the hulls while cruising. The collected plastic will then be sorted and recycled at a local recycling center (WongPanit).
According to David Martin, co-founder of Oceans For All, "the point of us is to collect the floating plastic before" it reaches the beach " and as soon as possible" before they have had a chance to do any harm and before they have disintegrated into microplastics.
As per the analysis by oceanographer Dr Erik van Sebille and physics student Peter Sherman at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, the most efficient way to clean up ocean plastics and avoid harming our rich ecosystem is to collect near the coasts.
"It makes sense to remove plastics where they first enter the ocean around dense coastal economic and population centers," added Dr van Sebille.
Ocean For All is planning to launch six more catamarans operating around Phuket beaches and marinas.
We are looking forward to following their initiatives and sharing their progress.
Oceans For All is a local foundation focusing on the restoration and preservation of the immediate marine surroundings, by implementing sustainable coastal development practices.
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